12-string Guitar: Kelly The Boy From Killanne

This ballad tells of the Wexford rising in 1798 and the brief hour of glory enjoyed by the insurgent forces. John Kelly was the son of a well-to-do merchant in Killanne which is a small town in the barony of Bantry, Co.Wexford. He was a leader of the men of his district. His party joined the insurgents after the taking of Enniscorthy and he was a leader of the party which cut off and defeated a party of reinforcements on their way to Wexford. Later he fought at Wexford, and was badly wounded while gallantly leading his men at New Ross. From there he was carried back to Wexford, and when the town was re-taken by the military he was hanged after a token-trial. After death his head was kicked around the street by soldiers. Brave Harvey is Bagenal Harvey, a Protestant landowner who was commander of the rebel forces at New Ross.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kelly
• The
• Boy
• From
• Killanne
• threelegsoman
• Irish
• Rebellion
• Folk
• Song
• Wexford
• Enniscorthy
• Lyrics
• Chords
• 12-string
• Acoustic
• Guitar

[JohnPreston0157]

Wow, you really did a great job, both on singing and playing the guitar:)

[threelegsoman]

@JohnPreston0157 Thank you for your kind comment

[Darrenae86]

My favourite rebel song about 1798. Remember my mother singing thsi song when i was small and found a new love for it after hearing Luke Kelly performing it on the Luke Kelly DVD. I learnt the chords you play it with by watching this video and now, thanks to you, i can play and sing my own rendition of it on my Ovation. Thanks so much! Plus, keep up the good work!

[threelegsoman]

Thanks for your kind comment. Happy to have been of help.

[Malover11]

nice. go maith

[threelegsoman]

Thanks. This has always been a favourite song for me, especially as I had a late friend whose name was John Kelly, though he was from Foxdale in the Isle of Man, not Killane.

[thomchak]

Very lovely version my Mann friend. Thanks so much, from Ireland.

[mcgzer]

This is great, means a lot to me, thanks.

Erin go Brach!

[Bryan198026]

Yet again, a favorite of mine which as usual you've done splendidly. It's my goal to learn to play this one as well.

[00JTM]

This is a good song!! Applause *****!!